Pressure increases, Trump postpones decision on Jerusalem status
US President Donald Trump.
`The President has made this issue clear from the beginning. It’s not a matter of if, but when,` AFP quoted White House spokesman Hogan Gidley as saying on December 4.
US President Donald Trump is about to decide whether to sign a waiver or not.
In 1995, the US Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, considering Jerusalem the capital of Israel, saying that the US embassy should move to this city.
Reuters quoted senior US officials as saying Mr. Trump planned to issue a temporary postponement decree, the second time since taking office in January.
Mr. Trump can also unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in his speech on December 6, a move that goes against US policy for many years, igniting Middle East tensions.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the most complex issues in the long-running conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Current state of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is home to many sacred sites of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in the East Jerusalem area.
Many world leaders have warned the US not to change its decades-long policy.
French President Emmanuel Macron on December 4 affirmed that the status of Jerusalem must be decided `within the framework of negotiations between Israel and Palestine`.
`If Israel’s status is changed and there is another step… it will be a big disaster,` Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag warned.
The Arab League announced that it is closely monitoring the situation.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also warned that any change in the status of Jerusalem would `have serious consequences` in a phone call with US counterpart Rex Tillerson on December 3.
Mahmoud Habash, advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said on December 2 that a wrong US decision could `completely destroy the peace process`.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on President Trump to seize the `historic opportunity`.
`The president will make his decision,` said Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
